Hey guys, its Yu here. Just wanted to start this to perhaps motivate some more guys to be more active in their lives because health is an important part of everyone's lives.
Before I left for my surgery, I kind of left off on a sour note with some. I just wanted to say that the posts I made were childish and perhaps a by-product of my frustration from my illness.
Anyways, I just want to share with you my life and the struggles I've dealt with.
I have been through something that has handicapped my life for so long, and some call it epic what I have accomplished, but to me it is just another step in life. The reaction I have gotten from people with this story has been warming and motivating. I just hope to be able to at least put a smile on your face, and motivate you to do something you love. This is my life...
I was born with a genetic disease called "Wilson's disease", I basically can't get rid of the copper in my body. It wasn't until 2007-2008 that I was diagnosed with this extremely rare disease. I was my liver specialists first patient in his entire practice, lucky me... At this point my liver was already damage significantly but my doctor reassured me that it was possible to maintain my health and keep the disease at bay.
In the next few years my body and health began to whither. No matter how hard my doctor tried, my liver's health continued to go down, it became cirrhotic. This was basically end stage liver disease. During this time is how many of my friends and family have come to know me. Other than my jaundiced appearance, many of you would not know that I was severely ill. I never showed it, I didn't want to worry those I loved.
With a cirrhotic liver, the likelihood of developing cancer is quite high, and in 2011 this happened. During 2010 fall semester finals, I received this news from my doctor and was also told it was time to start getting me a new liver. I felt so alone at these times, all my family was in Calgary when I was up in Edmonton for school. It was really my fault too because i would tell them i was fine and that i would never quit. There were nights where I cried myself to sleep, but I wake up forcing myself to smile. I smile and joke so my classmates and friends didn't have to worry, it was tough but I stayed strong.
In January I got my first chemo TACE therapy to destroy my hepato cellular carcinoma. With the following scans I was told it was successful. With a routine follow up scan 1 month later, I got more bad news, once again during finals in march (does anyone else see a pattern here!?!). The news? I was booked for another TACE at the end of march.
The second time I had to go in, my growth was even a larger than before. This second treatment left me damaged physically, broken. I had chronic pain and now became a prisoner to pain killers. From march to the eventual operation date I would force myself to ween off the morphine and fentanyl. It was difficult, I had chills, cold sweats, loss of appetite, major fatigue, all signs of withdrawal. Only at the few odd times I used a bit of morphine to help ween myself down at a more comfortable rate. I didn't want to let this drug get a hold of me and control my life.
On May 15th, my fathers birthday was when I got the call that I was finally placed on the transplant recipient list. I don't know who got the better present that day, my father or I? It was this day my brother did the most selfless act of all, he wished to be my donor. It was a touching moment but my brother and I know we would do the same if the situation were reversed. I was so happy I wanted to celebrate with a few close friends. Unfortunately several of them were too busy and didn't have time. It hurt a lot but I knew that I can't let that bring me down, I will stay strong, I will persevere.
Stephen began doing tests to see if he was a viable match. With each completed test it seemed to be great news but a lot of mystery was involved as updates were few and seldom. We started to get projected time spans for the surgery, early June, mid June, late June, early July, it all sounded like empty words. A test of my will. I got sick of getting excited and swore that ill believe it when the day comes.
September 2012, the real call came, operation date October 1st. I had only a bit more than one week to prepare. I wanted to see as many friends as I could, as this may be the last time... The amount of people that showed up blew my mind and it instilled in me the strength to carry through. The night before my surgery, no fear, no questions, just a mind filled with simple and joyful thoughts. On operation date, my brother and I lieing in the waiting room, nothing but silence. I'm guessing you guys can figure out that the surgery was a success
Here I am now, happier than ever. Everyday I wake up with a smile.
In the past, beyond helped me by entertaining me and by just kill time in my boring, and sedentary days. Now I want to give back to the community. Try to give you guys some motivation to exercise.
I go to the gym MWF at Edgemont WHC, and it has been only 42-43 days since my surgery! I love the gym now, much more than I used to. If any of you work out there, shoot me a PM, would love to meet more people.
Some long term goals of mine are to break some personal records I have set in the past:
Body weight: 120 lbs
Bench Press: 100 lbs @ 5 reps
Dead Lift: 275 lbs @ 5 reps
Squat: 205 lbs @ 5 reps
Currently:
Body weight: 110 lbs
Bench Press: Unknown (don't want to put pressure on abdominal)
Dead Lift: Unknown *read bench press
Squat: 20 lbs on bosu ball @ 10 reps
I know what I have is a long journey to get back where I want to be, but I crave going to the gym now to increase my health and overall to show people that "if a transplant guy can work so hard, maybe you can too!"
Thanks for reading and I hope to update this at least once a week.